Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-09
AROUND WILLIAMSBURG.

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lished his headquarters near there He sent
his cavalry, with artillery. under Stoneman,
! May 4, to pursue Johnston. Stoneman
caught up with Stuart's cavalry near the
Halfway house. Here was line of Con-
federate works waiting for him. In front Of
him was q large redoubt OF earthworks called
Fort Magruder. There was some skirmish-
ing, then Stoneman retreated to wait the ar
rival or infantry to cooperate with him. As
he did SO he left his own cannon behind him.
ingloriously stuck in the mud.
May Hooker had marched with the in
fantry by shorter road on the right to Join
Stoneman. Gen. w. f. Smith followed by
the Lees Mill road on the left. After him
moved COUGHS and Caseys divisions Kear-
ney's followed Hooker ON the right Sum-
ners corps followed next day. Franklinis
and Fitz John Porter's divisions were to be
sent up the York river from Yorktown by
water. Gen. Mcclellan stayed till the last at
Yorktown.
The Federal troops engaged In the fight at
Williamsburg were Hookers and Smiths di-
visions and Kearneyis divisions, besides part
Of Couch's On the Confederate side Long
street commanded.
Hooker fulfilled his orders to the letter. At
daybreak, May 5, he came in sight of VIII
liamsburg. Knowing that plenty of re-
endorsements were behind him, he attacked
at once with his 1000 men. All the while the
plan Of the Confederates was to retreat
slowly toward Richmond, keeping a strong
rear guard back of them till they could place
the Chickahominy between themselves and
the enemy. 1t was mastery movement
Ii was this strong rear guard which began
the battle OF Williamsburg, though re-en-
forcements from the front speedily were sent
back.
Hooker, fighting holly at the front, sent re-
peatedly to the commanding officer for help
But the simple fact is there was no COM
handing officer. A conflict of authority
arose between Sumner and Heintzelman, who
disliked each other. So nothing was done to
relieve Hooker
Still the rain fell, as it had been doing for
month. Artillery wheels sank to the center
in the mud, but Fighting Joe Hooker' kept
until night on the ground that had been
abandoned.
Not paying any attention to Hooker, who
was fighting on the Federal left, Sumner de-
cided to make movement on the right. A
Confederate redoubt on Cub Dam creek, east
Of Fort Magruder, was reported empty
Sumner ordered Gen. Winfield Scott Han
NOSA " ~ anu TAKE pOoSoSolOI VI ~. ulu
so, and likewise took possession of another
earthwork in advance of it He wished to
take third one, still nearer Fort Magruder,
and repeatedly sent for re-enforcements to
enable him to do So Sumner twice ordered
them to go to his aid and twice counter
manded the order. Hancock sent again ur-
gently, and that time Sumner ordered him to
fall back Thus Hancock got no more sup
1oitfl han
to be battle without head
Hancock was extremely loath to obey such
an order, knowing the advantage that might
be gained. He determined to obey as slowly
as possible. Meantime the enemy poured in
upon him. He began retreating slowly before
them. Suddenly he turned ON them and opened
a terrific musket fire. As the smoke from
that cleared away somewhat he shouted to
his men; "Now, gentlemen, the bayonet."
His soldiers made q tremendous bayonet
charge. That decided the day. The Confed-
crates broke and fled They lost on that part
of the battlefield alone 500 Hancock was
superb Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed next
day.
So Hooker and Kearney on the left and
Hancock on the right saved the day at Will
liamsburg May 8, 1862.
But the Confederates got off and continued
their retreat toward Richmond, just as they
had intended. Next day the pursuing army
captured few of their guns, which had
mired in the mud and been abandoned.
That with some stray prisoners, was the sum
total of the Federal spolls Of war after this
battle. The Union forces lost 2, 22S in killed
and wounded, the Confederates 1850.
Gen. Mcclellan was not on the field till near
5 o'clock in the afternoon. He was at York
town experimenting the removal of the
forces that were to go up the York by water.
Word was sent to him at / o'clock that the
battle was ON, and hotly, and urging him to
go to the front He answered simply, II
think they can take care Of that little matter"
In his boolS-McClellan' own book-he says:
"Could have arrived at o'clock, it is very
certain that Smith, supported by Couch and
afterward by Casey, would at once have de-
bouched from Hancocks ground and have cut
off the retreat of the greater part of the
troops engaged against Hooker"